Blair must stand up to Chancellor on the arts - Foster

10.51.16am GMT Tue 6th Mar 2007

Commenting ahead of Tony Blair's speech on the arts after a decade under Labour, Liberal Democrat Shadow Culture, Media and Sport Secretary, Don Foster MP said:

"Labour's welcome early investment in the arts is now being eroded. The Arts Council Grant was frozen last year and now further cuts are being considered.

"Brown promised to end 'boom and bust'. Now he may be on the brink of its re-emergence - to the arts budget.

"While core cuts will be deeply damaging, a further raid on lottery good causes would signal a double whammy.

"If Blair truly believes the arts are a 'treasure of this nation' then he must stand up to the Chancellor and say no to arts cuts and no to further raids on lottery good causes."

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